https://www.racingjunk.com/news/bandimere-speedway-to-close-after-65-years-in-operation/ Phoenix is on the way out and now this, it looks like the NHRA Western Swing will be a short ride.
Yep, this has been a long-standing feud with the county commissioners for many years. Their original development plan which was instituted over 30yrs ago, did not include the Bandimere property, and they have been doing everything they could to absorb it. It is called the Rooney Valley and Jeffco has been licking their chops for a long, long, time to get the whole pie. I wrote earlier this year that homes are being built within 1/2 mile of Bandimere, which was the tip-off. Just like Lions Dragstrip, they are forced out. Very sad for motorsports, for Denver and the drag racing community.
Can't imagine Samoa, Fontana, Irwindale, Pomona, Famoso, Redding, Sacramento, and Sonoma, are far behind in view of the fact that local attendees cannot purchase gasoline powered vehicles in a few years.
Lost Memphis a few years back also. The nearest NHRA nationals to me are now either Gainesville or Charlotte, I think Charlotte may be the closer one.
Lost KCIR a few years back as well when people started building houses close by, then complaining about the noise. Idiots. Yeah, street racing in PHX will be increasing once Wild Horse goes bye-bye.
No, they're quite clever. Bought houses close to the track because they were cheaper, then successfully lobbied to get it closed down. It doesn't seem right, though.
That pisses me off. Next to Heartland Park Topeka, Bandimere was my 2nd favorite racetrack to attend. I used to love the flathead and inliner races every summer. Those were good times, and it was a great track to watch races because even when the idiots stood up for every pass, I could still see the cars over their pointed heads.
What I always liked and appreciated, about going to the "CHRR" at "FAMOSO" Was the fact that it is isolated and out in the middle of nowhere !
Maybe all these greedy city councils and real-estate developers need to be reminded "WHY" these drag straps were built in the first place....
Did that track have bracket racing every weekend? Where's the push back from the local community? Can't get a petition drive? Too ambivalent? Unaware? When the racing community loses iconic locations their 1st complaint should go to the mirror. If the owner of the track flips you off anyways there's not much you can do (Detroit Dragway).
I remember the Street Racing back in mid 70’s Denver and surrounding areas. The Old Century 21 Drag Strip was a place to enjoy our rides, until they ran us out of there. Hillbilly Werewolf is absolutely correct!
The Bandimere family is planning to build a new track and are actively looking at properties. The current track is only closing because they sold the land.
It’s all about the money. In this case, as in many others, the track owners find they can make more money by selling the track to developers than by continuing to operate the track. Santa Fe in Burr Ridge Illinois, Route 66, Chicagoland Speedway, Detroit Dragway, Milan, and a host of others. It’s no longer profitable to operate a racetrack with limited attendance and high costs to be offset.
Any long time racer has plenty of memories from there. From going back to when they raced on saturday nights to the many rain outs. Bandimere was the 1st track to own it's own jet dryer. I ran there before and after the redoing the track when the new tower was built. Each pit area had it's stories. I had heard several years ago that the land was sold, then it got real quiet. Now we know. Has drag racing come full circle??????
Pomona will be around at least until 2033 thanks to In and Out Burger. POMONA — Beginning in 2023, the legendary drag racing strip on Fairplex property will become known as the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip instead of the Auto Club Raceway. A new multiyear sponsorship deal with the hamburger chain that serves California and six other western states was announced Tuesday, ending a long-term association with the Auto Club. Camping World will remain the sponsor for the NHRA season and Lucas Oil will continue its relationship with the Winternationals, an ongoing event since 1961. The track opened in 1953. It was also announced that the track has extended its contract with Fairplex from 2028 to 2033, aimed to ensure that there will be drag racing in Pomona for the next decade.
The Jalopy Journal
